Welcome Back Edition 2011 - The Oakland Post

THE OAKLAND POST OAKLAND UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

August 31, 2011

www.oaklandpostonline.com

Volume 38 // Issue 4

Campus

The Mix

The Scene

G-Eazy takes the stage with Big Sean and Wale at GrizzlyPalooza

The return of The Mix starts off with a stand-off between Starbucks and Biggby

Students pay tribute to alternative rock band, The Killers, in stage production

page 6

page 20

page 24

this week August 31 — September 6, 2011

Have a news tip for us?

Tweet @theoaklandpost and let us know what we’re missing.

THE OAKLAND POST OAKL AND UNIVERSIT Y’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

editorial & media Kay Nguyen

Managing Content Editor managing@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2537

Kaitlyn Chornoby

Jason Willis

Managing Visual Editor visual@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2537

section editors Andy Craig Campus Editor campus@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-4263 Mike Horan Sports Editor sports@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2848 Ali Armstrong Local Editor local@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2848

Meijer Mania // Tuesday, August 30

SIERRA SOLEIMANI/The Oakland Post

In it’s second year, the annual Back to School night at OU’s local Meijer attracted students of all ages for a night of fun and freebies. In addition to a large table with the board game Operation and a DJ stand, Oakland’s own mascot The Grizz came to party it up with students.

Nichole Seguin

Editor-in-Chief editor@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-4268

Sarah Wojcik Features Editor features@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2848 Kevin Romanchik Scene Editor scene@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2848

Design Editor design@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-4266

photographers Sierra Soleimani senior reporters Ray Andre Megan Semeraz staff reporters Brian Figurski Kevin Graham Sarah Hunton Jomar Mabborang staff interns Brittany Haney Tyrell Johnson Sonia Litynskyj Stephanie Preweda advisors Holly Gilbert Don Ritenburgh (248) 370-2848 distribution manager Sylvia Marburger

Mouthing Off Editor mouthingoff@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-2848 copy editors Clare La Torre Shawn Minnix web Bryan Culver web@oaklandpostonline.com

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CAMPUS // Kresge Library stays open 24 hours during the weekdays and offers extended hours for the cafe.

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SPORTS // Student athletes manage to maintain their grade point averages while participating in extracurricular activities.

advertising & marketing Devon Thomas Lead Ads Manager ads@oaklandpostonline.com (248) 370-4269 Krystal Harris Assistant Ads Manager ads@oaklandpostonline.com

Litsa Didaskalos Assistant Ads Manager ads@oaklandpostonline.com Tiania Paul Assistant Ads Manager ads@oaklandpostonline.com Sarah Hunton Ads Intern ads@oaklandpostonline.com

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NATION/WORLD // Oakland’s female population reflects results from a recent study that reveals women in college outnumber men.

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FEATURES // Oakland student travels to Ghana to study and teach dance for her Honors College thesis project.

Cover design by JASON WILLIS/The Oakland Post

Perspectives

August 31, 2011

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Parking is a pain ... not Parking. The word alone is enough to prompt many Oakland University students, staff and faculty to begin a diatribe of epic proportions.

Dean and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Glenn McIntosh prepared the campus community for the parking situation this year via an email blast. It’s as if we are preparing for a natural disaster.

Except this annual event never turns out to be a disaster. Each year, we hear horror stories of cars darting around parking lots for upwards of an hour, searching for a coveted parking spot. Turns out, those people are searching in all the wrong places.

Every year, the OU Police Department counts the number of available parking spaces in each lot during the start of each semester and throughout the year. There has never been a time where there are no available parking spaces, which dispels the myth that there is not enough parking available on campus.

Besides, a 5-15 minute walk could save every parking spot seeker a lot of aggravation and contribute to healthy living.

Check out next week’s issue for a feature about walking on campus.

Discussions about parking have been brought up numerous times at board of trustees meetings all throughout the year.

It’s odd that a group of people who have parking spaces reserved by cones during every meeting is taxed with hearing about parking problems.

If it all seems a little bit ridiculous, it’s because it is.

Dean McIntosh’s email instructed people to show up an hour ahead of time. Typically, OUPD officers are on hand to direct the flow of traffic and stop people from entering overflowing lots.

What makes the beginning of the school year so much more hectic than the rest of the year, though? Everything seemingly works out after the first few weeks.

We’ve already hypothesized before that it’s not really a parking problem the school has, but a walking problem. That’s not an excuse anymore, though.

The Bike Share program has been in existence now for about two years. More bikes are introduced each year and the cute cruisers are a free, easy way to zip from parking lots to buildings.

If you’re not a fan of doing any work in order to get from once location to another, the Bear Bus shuttle program, which begins its second year of service this fall runs an almost-complete loop around campus.

A Ride Share bulletin board is also posted in the basement of the Oakland Center,

across from the Center for Student Activities. Carpooling can help with the hassles of finding parking for multiple vehicles and reduce costs associated with gas prices.

Commuter resources are available at www. oakland.edu/csa for those interested in ride sharing.

Also take into account that parking is free on campus and does not require a permit, which is a rarity even among other commuter campuses.

At U of M Dearborn, permits are required and students must apply for them.

Wayne State University students pay $260 to $340 per semester for parking and can only park in assigned lots. Grand Valley State University has a similar arrangement for commuter students, though fees are a lot lower.

A majority of Michigan public universities require permits and charge students from parking. OU is a campus that serves many commuter students by alleviating the burden of extra costs.

Stop wasting time talking about the purportedly bad parking situation. On-campus parking should be the least of student worries.

Dean McIntosh put it best when he told campus community members to be patient during the coming weeks.

EDITORIAL BOARD Kay Nguyen, Nichole Seguin and Kaitlyn Chornoby managing@oaklandpostonline.com

CONTACT US In person:

61 Oakland Center, in the basement

By e-mail: editor@oaklandpostonline.com

By phone: 248-370-4268

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Please limit letters to 250 words or less.

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CORRECTIONS CORNER

The Oakland Post corrects all errors of fact. If you know of an error, please e-mail managing@oaklandpostonline.com or call 248.370.2537.

You can also write us at 61 Oakland Center Rochester, MI 48309.

If you are interested in writing a guest column for the Perspectives section, e-mail editor@oaklandpostonline.com or call 248.370.4268.

4 // Perspectives

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August 31, 2011

New administration has big plans GUEST COLUMN As new and returning students are arriving back to campus this week, Oakland University Student Congress welcomes you to what should be a very exciting year!

Writing as your Student Body President and a fellow student, I truly believe this will be the most exciting year ever at Oakland University. Myself and the 19,000-plus other students will be privileged, but also challenged to be members of this great university.

Why is this the most exciting year?

From April, throughout the summer, to the Fall 2011 Welcome Week, Student Congress has been meeting with administrators, advocating for the students and planning for an exciting Fall Semester full of great events and programs.

We, along with university administrators, have successfully accomplished many new initiatives this year.

In particular, an initiative over 20 years in the making has come to fruition: a 24-hour library. After collaborating with the President’s Office and the library itself, Kresge Library will now be open 24 hours. It’s open

Benjamin Eveslage and Elisa Malile Student Body President and Vice President

Sunday to Friday until 2 a.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

In addition to this historic achievement on behalf of the students, other positive changes for the year include free access to Bumper’s Game Room in the Oakland Center, the impressively green Human Health Building being one year from completion, a new outdoor plaza with picnic tables, hammocks, and posting kiosk by Kresge Library, the Library Café being open until midnight on weekdays, the Grizz Express open in the OC for quick late-night food and snacks, discounted catering prices for student organizations, a new online student organization

events and directory and, finally, the recent announcement of the National Republican Presidential Debate to be held at Oakland University.

These are all large changes, which have brought our university to the forefront of higher education in Michigan. This is truly an exciting time and your Student Congress is working hard to influence a positive direction for the university.

As a part of Student Congress, we are also working to provide inspiring, educational and social events free and open to all OU students.

These events include our Fútbol Party this Friday, Rock4Rights, The Cost of Fair Trade, Post Secret Live at OU, Invisible Children at OU, the Midnight Madness BYOB Tailgate, Arabian Nights with Student Program Board and the Environmental and Middle East Awareness Forums. You can sign up for event reminders by scanning the QR code below with your Smartphone or navigating to oakland.edu/ousc/getinvolved What is the challenge? Along with embracing many exciting changes and attending the many events happening at OU, we

challenge all students to assume active roles in the university.

Whether it means that when you get involved with OUSC or use a service we provide or attend an event we hold, you are positively impacting your university.

Together, with the support of the Student Body and your representatives from Student Congress, we can accomplish any goal.

Elisa Malile, your student body vice president and I, look forward to this year, being a part of Oakland University and working with Student Congress to provide the best Oakland experience possible to all OU students.

We look forward to the great year ahead.

Advanced robots will be able to take over As a technology enthusiast, I am in awe of the advancements we have made over the past decade.

In 2001, Wireless networks were just starting to become common in homes.

Windows XP was released later in the year. The Human Genome project — cofunded by IBM — was just taking its first baby steps.

Ten mere years later, IBM has moved on to a larger playground: one vastly more innovative and equally as terrifying.

On August 18, the researchers at IBM announced experimental computer chips that are designed to imitate the brain, including the ability of perception, action and cognition.

Dubbed the SyNAPSE project, the technology is ground breaking. It’s our first step towards a society of artificial intelligence.

These computer chips will be able to think like you and I, analyze situations and be able to act on sense, not just logic, which

has been one of the most outlying flaws in robotic advancements.

Researchers are hopeful that the chip, once completed, will be able to aid in everyday things.

They have given examples of situations when one of these chips would monitor water supply — noting temperature, pressure, wave height and other variables — and be able to give warning when it thinks a tsunami is likely.

This is all perfectly fine and would indeed have a very positive effect on the world.

But what I’ve learned from past advancements is that we are never done trying to one-up ourselves, which could eventually lead to human demise.

I often fear that I will begin sounding like the 2012 preachers, but in this case, I have history to back me up. It’s human nature to want to continue to improve, to never be satisfied.

Kaitlyn Chornoby

Managing Visual Editor

Now, since these chips can think like a human, this trait will double in our artificial counterparts.

We will, eventually, develop AI that can think and act just like us, whether we have the intention of living alongside them or not. Will they be one of us, or will they live under us? Would your human nature like that very much?

Where will we be ten years from now, when AI is perfected and we’re installing these chips into prototypes of warriors to

send to war? When does success for the human race evolve into damnation?

It’s such a difficult argument because these advancements will save lives.

However, that claim doesn’t look at the full picture. It’s not where we are now; it’s where we will be.

One day, we won’t know who’s human and who’s cyborg. We are inventing a race just like ours with one difference: they can improve, and could easily become our successors.

Phase two of the SyNAPSE project has been rewarded $21 million in funding to continue evolving, as it deserves. We should be proud of our accomplishments with science and technology and continue to promote it.

But where do we go from here? Aren’t we already complaining about robots taking jobs away from us?

Then again, if we can’t distinguish robot from human, how can we complain?

August 31, 2011

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Campus

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August 31, 2011

GrizzlyPalooza, an OU original

By MEGAN SEMERAZ Staff Reporter

The OU Student Program Board hosts an array of campus events throughout the school year. Events such as GrizzlyPalooza, which on Sept. 9 will feature rapper Big Sean, are organized for student entertainment. These events are often at low cost for student admission, but they come at a big price for the university.

The idea for GrizzlyPalooza began to manifest when Jermaine Conaway, the SPB chair, and Kate Rozek, SPB’s mainstage chair, wanted this year’s concert to have a theme. They chose the name based on Lollapalooza, but added an OU twist that is evident in its name.

Previously, the SPB held concert events that had one main act such as Drake, or the All-American Rejects. This year, however, they chose to break the routine.

“We knew that we didn’t want one huge act, we wanted...small and up and coming, not that they aren’t successful, but acts that maybe aren’t just huge.”

“It’s going to be like nothing OU has ever had before. It is going to be a fun welcome week concert with some amazing entertainment.”

- Kate Rozek, SPB Mainstage Chair According to Rozek, GrizzlyPalooza will be different than any previous SPB concerts.

“It is going to be like nothing OU has ever had before. It is going to be a fun welcome week concert with some amazing entertainment,” said Rozek.

Up and coming artists Big Sean, Wale, GEazy, Big Krit and Dusty McFly were chosen partially on genre as the SPB tries to mix up the style of music performances at OU from year to year.

“We kind of try to switch up every so often, like how we did Drake and then we wanted to do electro-dance type music (LMFAO) and then we kind of want to go back to (hip-hop). This is hip-hop too, but it’s kind of up and coming and underground,” Conaway said.

Cost plays the biggest role in who the

Anton/Frankel Center opens For the first time in its history, OU has owns a satellite campus location.

Located in the heart of downtown Mt. Clemens, the new site offers an educational experience similar to main campus at the new, state-ofthe art facility.

Photo courtesy of www.oakland.edu

The GrizzlyPalooza lineup features a handful of up-and-coming musicians. One of the main acts, Big Sean, is a local product. He grew up on Detroit’s west side.

SPB can book, and mainstream artists can come at a price way above their budget.

“We would love to get Katy Perry or Taylor Swift, but they start off at a million dollars to just bid on them. Or someone like Kesha, they cost hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars and we just don’t have that,” Conaway said.

According to Conaway, concerts like GrizzlyPalooza still cost nearly $100,000 after production. The money used to pay for the event comes from previous ticket sales and a small percentage of tuition money.

“We’re directly funded, so we get a portion of student money to provide for students just as OUSC and The Oakland Post... so that’s where the money comes from based on student funds,” Conaway said.

If one event is successful, the money made from that is recycled for use in future events. GrizzlyPalooza is being partially funded by the success of the 2010 Drake concert at OU. “It (2010 concert) was really successful, so we wanted to reuse the money and kind of recycle it to make another event for students,” Conaway said.

According to Conaway, there are many additional costs associated with putting on

a show like GrizzlyPalooza such as production, venue, contracts and lights. The LMFAO concert held earlier this year required the SPB to invest in screens and confetti specifically for their show.

The cost of admission to GrizzlyPalooza for OU students is $5 and $15 for guests.

Gabrielle Jennings, a freshman majoring in business administration, has plans to attend GrizzlyPalooza. She liked the fact that admission prices were kept low for students and their guests.

“I saw the poster, it looks like everyone is going to be there...(admission rates) allow you to bring someone else for a reasonable price,” Jennings said.

Conaway expressed that GrizzlyPalooza will be a chance for students to have fun before kicking off a busy school year.

“This is your gift for the beginning of the school year...it’s going to be something to start off the year before all the stresses of the semester,” Conaway said. “Even if you don’t like them, it’s just something fun.”

Tickets are on sale now at the CSA window or Ticketmaster. OU students must get their tickets at the CSA window for the discount. For more information, visit oakland.edu/spb

Non-smoking policy revised In addition to stricter smoking policy changes in recent years, Oakland University brass has again tightened non-smoking regulations on campus.

Beginning this fall semester, smoking is not only prohibited inside all buildings on the campus of OU, but also within 50 feet of them.

The changes are part of an incentive to reduce the amount of secondhand smoke that students, faculty and campus visitors have to unwillingly encounter.

OU MTD at Detroit Jazz Festival OU will be sending representatives to Labor Day weekend’s Detroit Jazz Festival at Hart Plaza in Detroit.

OU alumna Regina Carter and her band, the Reverse Thread, will be performing twice this weekend.

The OU Jazz Band will also be on hand, playing on the Mack Avenue Waterfront Stage.

The Detroit Jazz Festival is one of the last few free jazz concerts in the country.

To learn more, visit oakland. edu/mtd

— Compiled by Andrew Craig, Campus Editor

August 31, 2011

www.oaklandpostonline.com

Campus // 7

Feet For Seats kicks off MBT season

By TYRELL JOHNSON Staff Intern

Meadow Brook Theatre’s 3rd Annual Feet For Seats 5K Fun Run/Walk kickstarted the season by raising nearly $20,000 in funds for the upcoming year.

On August 21, the morning run/walk was followed by musical performances, season previews, free food and even a moon bounce for children.

Each year, the event has expanded from previous success. This year, nearly 100 volunteers turned out to show support and appreciation for Meadow Brook Theatre as it prepares for another year of inspiring performances.

The theatre is hosting an open house for potential patrons on Friday, Sept. 16. The event, which is from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., is free and open to everyone.

“The open house gives people an opportunity to see the changes done to the theatre,” Dan Conway, development manager, said.

Those who attended were able to view the theatre and its recent renovations, which include new seats and name plaques for donators who have given more than $300 to the theatre.

In addition, plans for the aformentioned productions are well under way.

“We are really excited about this year’s set of productions. We are geared and ready to give all individual’s wonderful entertainment,” Cheryl Marshall, management director said.

The theatre will commence its production this season with “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” running from October 5-30, as part of the 5-play lineup of the MBT season.

Plans for next year’s Feet For Seats event are already in the making, as the theatre strives to continue delivering extraordinary performances while keeping prices reasonable for audiences.

To see a full listing of events and productions for the theatre, visit mbtheatre.com

Photo courtesy of Meadow Brook Theatre

Meadow Brook Theatre Artistic Director, Travis Walter (center) was among the approximately 200 participants on hand for the 3rd annual Feet For Seats 5K Run/Walk.

8 // Campus

August 31, 2011

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OU recognizes student veterans, soldiers

By HALEY JONNA Staff Reporter

This September marks the ten-year memorial of the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11. The Oakland University Chapter of the Student Veterans of America has planned an event to pay homage to all of those who lost their lives on that momentous day.

The OU 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony and Military Recognition Event marks the first of its kind and will take place on Sept.

7, 2011 from 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. in P2, the small lot between the Oakland Center and Wilson Hall.

A decade after the attacks, Americans are still feeling the effects. With U.S. soldiers fighting two wars across seas, many hope the bravery of those serving our country is recognized. With that hope, OU plans to honor men and women of the U.S. armed forces.

Robert Rietze, OU’s Veteran Liaison and the director of the event, claims that the 9/11

terrorist attack is what pushed him and several of his friends to enlist.

“The attacks made me feel fearful and angry, but they also gave me a feeling of duty and responsibility towards my family,” Rietze said.

The event is not only an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, but also an opportunity to acknowledge those who have fought or currently fight for respective branches of the United States military.

Emilia Allen, multicultural affairs director at Oakland University Student Congress, along with the rest of OUSC, will be present at the event. Allen, whose boyfriend is currently fighting in Iraq, hopes to raise awareness of the ongoing armed conflict overseas.

“It is everyone’s job to support those who are deployed,” Allen said.

Many soldiers choose to attend college following their time in the service. OU has helped meet that need for many veterans and developed a reputation as a veteran

The Student Veterans official badge honors the five branches of the United States Military. friendly university.

Rietze said that there are about three hundred veterans currently enrolled at OU, and they maintain an active student organization. Many of these veterans will gather for the commemoration.

All in attendance will have a chance to

view the Traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial, which honors the lives lost in a war that has often gone overlooked in the vast history of American wars.

Members of the National Guard will also be present with a rock wall and 20 yard inflatable obstacle course for visitors to enjoy and challenge themselves. The Marine Corps Hummer will be present as a prop of patriotism. Additionally, the event will be complemented with free food, including pizza, popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones. WXOU will be on hand, keeping the event upbeat with free live music as well.

Rietze urges all student organizations to get involved in the event and make a show of support, even student groups that are unrelated to the day’s theme. Tables are available to any organization that hopes to recruit members. He suggests that this event can bring people from all across campus together to honor our country and those who have died in the name patriotism.

For more information regarding veterans at OU, visit oakland.edu/veterans

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August 31, 2011

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10 // Campus

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August 31, 2011

Hours extended, scantrons rescinded

By HALEY JONNA Staff Reporter

With the start of the 2011 fall semester, the Oakland University library announced changes that will both delight and disappoint students. For starters, the library will be open 24 hours a day from Sunday though Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

This change was effected after substantial effort of Oakland University Student Congress, who has worked for years on the matter. This year will serve as a trial run, where overall use of the facility’s new hours will determine whether the 24-hour library remains a permanent offering to students.

Ben Eveslage, student body president, and Brett McIsaac, the student services director, both played a role in pushing the agenda on the pilot 24-hour program.

Student reports laptop stolen A male student contacted OUPD in July about a stolen laptop computer. The student stated that he left his computer in his apartment, went out for three hours, and when he returned it was missing. The student stated that the apartment was left unlocked.

There are no suspects at this time.

A welcome change “Every person I’ve talked to, including the assistant dean of the library and the President, is very confident in the program,” Eveslage said. “And, with the opening of the medical school, a 24-hour facility became an even larger necessity.”

One recurring issue that the OUSC faces is keeping food services open along with the library. Having food and drink options available to students during the extended hours would be a boon to the 24/5 schedule this semester.

“Every person I've talked to, including the assistant dean of the library and President, is very confident in the program. And with the opening of the medical school, a 24-hour facility became an even larger necessity.”

— Ben Eveslage, student body president “If the food services will not stay open 24-hours, then we will push for healthier vending options and coffee machines,” Eveslage said.

While OUSC has had the longest running influence on backing the idea of an all-hours library, the success of the 24-hour Wayne State library also offered a positive indicator for the creation of one at Oakland . The opening reportedly increased the quality of student life as well as student involvement on campus. Also, the success of the OUSC Exam Cram, which kept the OU library open until 2 AM during exam week, has made the need for a 24-hour facility even more apparent.

OUSC assures students that late-night security will not be an issue. An OUPD escort

ANDREW CRAIG/The Oakland Post

The Kresge Library at OU has new hours beginning this semester to go along with the new flowers out front. service has always been an option at OU, and in the past year security has developed an extensive camera monitoring system.

The hope is that more student activity will be extended to the library, and all necessities, such as food, coffee and Internet service will be available to students there.

Scantron setback While the Oakland University Student Congress had a huge hand in stretching library hours, they have made other changes as well. The OUSC will no longer offer scantrons in their office or in the library.

“Providing free scantrons to students was originally an idea to bring students into the student congress office,” said McIsaac. “Students were expecting the scantrons as a sole service of OUSC.” He said that OUSC would spend three to four thousand dollars a semester on scantrons, which could be money better spent.

“This is not the best way to spend OU student’s money,” McIsaac said. Not all students, however, share McIsaac’s opinion on the recent change in library services.

“That’s not a trade that I would have made,” sophomore Greg Grierson said. “I would much rather have free scantrons on campus than have the library open in the middle of the night.”

Grierson, a physical therapy major, reasoned that since money is tight for many, the last thing a college student needs is another expense. Although the new library hours will be beneficial for some, students like Grierson argue that the change puts more stress on student’s wallets.

“The only time I really use the library

regularly is during finals week, when the hours are extended (during Exam Cram) anyway,” he said. “I don’t think the switch was necessary.”

Signs will be posted to assure that students buy their own scantrons, and professors are to warn their students to purchase scantrons at the start of the semester.

Eveslage speaks of a proposal submitted to the bookstore and the library to purchase scantron vending machines so scantrons are readily available to students, even if the library and bookstore are closed.

“The biggest need is that students have access to scantrons,” Eveslage said. “The biggest cost of a scantron to students is not having it available to them when they need one.”

While the OUSC still believes that providing scantrons should be a service of the University, no other organization has come forward and presented plans to join in funding the service, so obtaining scantrons is now the responsibility of students for the time being.

“Students have gotten accustomed to receiving scantrons for free, when the original purpose was to increase involvement in student congress,” McIsaac said. Despite the inconvenience of having to purchase scantrons as a minor financial setback, many students stand to benefit from the Kresge Library’s extended hours this school year.

The changes implemented in the library are intended to make for a more cohesive studying environment. The library modifications are another attempt to make campus more accessible and more accommodating to OU’s students. Whether that attempt is a successful one remains to be seen.

Possible attempted fraud through Craiglist On August 10 a female student came to OUPD to make a report of possible fraud. The student stated she had attempted to sell an Oboe on Craigslist for $700. The female student received a check from a male buyer for $2,900, because the buyer wanted the item shipped immediately.

The female then took the check to a bank that refused to cash it.

After consulting FedEx and multiple banks, the female was advised to send the check back.

However, the female was unable to obtain a return address via FedEx. The female student believes this to be some new type of online scam. No money or items were transferred.

Vehicle keyed in OU parking lot On August 24, OUPD was dispatched to P1 lot on a call about damage to a female victim's vehicle. The victim state that someone had keyed her car between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m..

The key marks were the on the front passenger side of the bumper and also under the headlight.

The female victim also told OUPD that the rear driver's side door was keyed on August 4.

OUPD advised the female to park in a different area of campus and inspect her car regularly for new marks. ­ — Compiled by Kevin Romanchik, Scene Editor

August 31, 2011

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NICHOLE SEGUIN/The Oakland Post

THE OAKLAND POST

Campus // 11

IS HIRING Getting a start

OU alumnus David McNaughton dons his white coat for the first time. McNaughton is one of 50 students selected to be a part of the inaugural class of the school of medicine.

Classes commence at school of medicine

By NICHOLE SEGUIN

Managing Content Editor

Classes for the first year of the new Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine started today as administrators and faculty welcomed the incoming class of 50 students.

Fifty out of 3,273 applicants were admitted to the four-year program. Of these 50 students, 35 are from Michigan, 20 are from Oakland County and four are Oakland University alumni. They started their first class “Professionalism in Medicine” on Monday, Aug. 8.

“For current OU students, I think it sets a wonderful example of academic excellence,” Mary Beth Synder, vice president for student affairs, said. “Students in the medical school will be role models for students who want to aspire to any kind of biology or premedical kind of curriculum … the students who aspire to that kind of career will have students to go to to talk to about it … it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more from people that have gone through it what it takes to become successful.”

A medical school that was formed through a partnership between Oakland University and Beaumont Health Systems, students are able to take classes at the university as well as clinical trainings at Beaumont hospitals.

David McNaughton, a 2010 Oakland University graduate, decided to apply to the medical school after attending an applicant visit earlier last year. For him, home is right around the corner. A previous winner of the commuter involvement award when

he was an undergraduate student and a peer transition assistance mentor for OU students with Asperger syndrome, McNaughton will commute to school from his home in Clarkston.

“I had some concerns about it becoming a first year school, but it seems that they’re doing things really well and they have everything under control,” he said. “I think being a small school, the class size is going to be a camaraderie … everyone’s going to know each other really well. Just through the application process, I feel like everyone already knows me really well … you won’t be able to have the interaction we have at this school at a bigger university.”

According Dr. Robert Folberg, founding dean of the school, the medical school is the first one to open in Michigan in 47 years.

He said after the initial start up year with 50 students, the school will accept an additional 25 students a year until it hits capacity at 125.

“I would like to pay a tribute to Oakland University faculty and staff for supporting the establishment of the medical school at Oakland through the collaboration of employment,” Provost Virinder Moudgil said.

“This is important because this schools success depends on a support system from both institutions. I cannot be more grateful to the university senate and my faculty colleagues for their support and their belief that this is important to our region.”

Tuition for the 2011-12 school year will cost $42,760.

For more information on the William Beaumont school of medicine, visit oakland.edu/medicine

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Submit samples of previous work to editor@oaklandpostonline.com with full contact information. You can also come in to meet with us on Mondays and Thursdays at 61 Oakland Center.

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August 31, 2011

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Athletes excel in the classroom

Oakland students perform at a high level on and off the courts

By MICHAEL HORAN

Academic Successes

Sports Editor

When Brittany Carnago was a freshman on the Oakland University women’s basketball team, she found a role model in former teammate Jessica Pike.

Carnago watched Pike stay after practice to work on her game.

She’d watch her shoot extra and always give 110 percent. But Carnago also saw something else.

Pike was a student first and an athlete second.

“I played with Jessica Pike my freshman and sophomore year; she was a phenomenal basketball player and she did amazing in the classroom,” Carnago said. “Pike is definitely a huge role model on and off the court. Her academic success and her athletic ability — she has the best work ethic in both areas. I’d always see her on our road trips studying.”

Carnago followed in Pike’s footsteps on and off the court and joins a number of student athletes at OU who have excelled not only on the court, but in the classroom as well.

“That’s what they’re (at OU) for,” Eric Stephan, women’s basketball associate head coach said.

“They’re student-athletes first, athletes second.”

A number of athletic teams and athletes from OU have earned special recognition as scholar athletes.

The women’s basketball team were recognized as sixteenth in the top 25 in Division I grade point average.

Also, the women’s swim and dive team, among others, as a College Swimming Coaches Association of America All-America team, respectively.

“They’ve done that ever since

For the sixth consecutive year Oakland athletics is the leading school in the Summitt League with 215 Academic All-Summitt League Selections.

Brittany Carnago was chosen as the Division I-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholarship winner.

BOB KNOSKA/The Oakland Post

Brittany Carnago earned 3.9 GPA after her first semester in her Master’s program. She attributes her grades to her coaches, traditions, work ethic and self-discipline. the college swim coaches association has been recognizing this particular thing,” Pete Hovland, women’s swim and dive head coach said. “I’ve been here 32 years and I don’t know of a semester the swim team hasn’t been academic All-American. It says a lot about it them. It says they’re very focused, they’re very dedicated, they’re very, very serious about their studies and they do a very good job managing it.”

Carnago, who earned the Division I-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholarship in April, and posted a 3.9 GPA after her first semester in her Master’s program attributes the academic success to tradition.

“I think that comes from our coaches and just tradition,” she said. “The people around me, the people Coach Beckie (Francis) recruits and I think just the way we’ve been trained, being super disciplined and great work ethic, that goes for everyone of our teammates they all go above and

beyond.”

Along with tradition, Stephan believes the dedication of the Oakland Athletic Department plays a huge part in the athlete’s success.

“We have all sorts of different things,” Stephan said. “First it starts here with the department with Holly Kerstner is in charge of Student Services, she does a lot with freshman, a lot of mentoring, a lot of meeting with them, Evan who’s our academic advisor does a great job and then they have to meet with the coaches once a week, so we know what they’re doing.”

According Oakland’s Year In Review for 2011, OU Athletics led the Academic All-Summitt League with 215 selections for the sixth consecutive year.

“This is one of the reasons I’ve been at Oakland for as long as I have,” Hovland said. “We seem to do things, we have the right perspective, we have a very balanced approach when it comes to

academics in athletics; I think it’s a good balance.

“When people say academics is important at Oakland I believe it, I’ve seen it for all the years I’ve been here,” Hovland continued.

“We feel it is something important, our alums go on to do really fantastic things and go on to be great representatives of this university and the education and athletic experience they get really prepares them to be outstanding individuals in their communities.”

Carnago continues to work hard in the classroom, boasting a 3.4 GPA as she continues working towards her master’s degree in counseling.

“She’s a great example just as a role model for other players,” Stephan said. “They say ‘here’s a team captain, here’s one of our top players and she’s studying, she’s working hard in the classroom,’ it just rubs off on them,” The athletic department also has many student athlete services dedicated to academic success.

Women’s basketball placed sixteenth in top 25 in Division I grade point average.

Women’s swim and dive was selected as a College Swimming Coaches Association of America All-America team.

Swimmers Vanessza Balogh, Marcella Barretta and Chelsea Oates earned Honorable Mention Scholar All- America award.

Men’s senior golfer Michael Marks was named Cleveland Golf.Srixon All-America Scholar.

Women’s golfers Liz Ecker, Alanna Gerber and Mara Kovac were named to the 2010-2011 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar team.

August 31, 2011

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Volleyball adds two to 2011 class

By SETH WALKER Staff Reporter

The Oakland University women’s volleyball team has added two players to its roster. Incoming freshmen, Taylor Humm and Lauren Mammina, are the new faces for the Golden Grizzlies for the 2011 season.

Humm, a 5-10 outside hitter from Crystal Lake, Ill., near Chicago, was a two-time all-state honorable mention at Prairie Ridge High School.

As a freshman, Humm recorded a teamhigh 12 kills for team black in the Black and Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 20 in her first real game experience, .

Humm said that she was impressed with the amount of dedication Oakland provides student athletes.

“Oakland takes the student athletes seriously,” Humm said, “I fell in love with it.”

She said she is also impressed with the community surrounding the campus, which helps provide a “unique experience.”

Humm is joining five other players from her home state who play for OU: sophomores Alissa Valentine and Audrey Wilson, along with juniors Alli Kirk, Meghan Bray and Amber Miehlke.

Humm believes that the Illinois connection she shares with the other five players will help her “break the ice” by being able to talk to them about things they can relate to pertaining to Illinois.

However, she is also looking forward to getting to know the other members of the

team who can show her around the local area since she has little experience being in, Michigan.

Volleyball will not be the only sport Humm competes in at Oakland. She will also be on the track and field team in the shot put and discus throw events.

One of the reasons Humm chose Oakland is because she wanted to have the opportunity to play two sports at the Division I collegiate level.

"You start learning more and understand better how to motivate them, how to work with them and help them reach their potential.”

— Rob Beam OU Head Volleyball Coach

Mammina, a 5-8 outside hitter from Grand Rapid, helped her team at Forest Hills Eastern High school to win back-toback conference championships while being named to the all-conference team as a senior and competing in gymnastics.

Now as a Golden Grizzly, Mammina will be making the switch to defensive specialist.

This will require her to sacrifice contributing offensively on the front row to focus on her defensive skills in the back row.

However, she already began preparing for this transition as a high school senior with

an increased focus to defense.

“Though I will miss hitting, I’m excited to play defensive specialist,” said Mammina, “I’m really looking forward to it.”

On her recruiting visit to Oakland, Mammina was impressed with the campus and was more comfortable with the smaller size of it compared to Michigan and Michigan State.

“The campus is beautiful,” Mammina said, “It’s the perfect size.”

Additionally, some of Mammina’s family members have attended Oakland and a friend of her mother lives close to the campus.

With the rest of the team comprising of mostly juniors and seniors, Humm and Mammina will benefit from the leadership they provide.

“They’ve been helping us with the cohesion of every individual and we’ve been able to understand their plays and how this team works,” said Humm.

Head coach Rob Beam sees a lot of potential in Humm and Mammina and said it will be fun coaching them in their college career.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to get to know them as we get to work together every day,” said Beam. “You start learning more and understand better how to motivate them, how to work with them and help them reach their potential.”

The Grizzlies will compete in the Golden Grizzlies Invitational at the O'Rena starting on Sept. 2.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Humm

Taylor Humm, a freshman, has been playing volleyball for years. She will be playing for the Grizzles in the fall.

Paying college athletes to play: No, thank you COLUMN Yahoo! Sports’ investigated a report on University of Miami booster Nevin Shapiro’s involvement of giving out thousands of benefits to around 72 student athletes between 2002 through 2010.

The report showed that Shapiro estimates benefits totaled in the millions of dollars were given out during his time with the Hurricane athletic department along with prostitutes, paid trips, jewelry, bounties for on-field performance and on one occasion, an abortion, were some of the services provided by the booster.

This incident brings up another issue in the already controversial sport of college athletics: should student athletes get paid outside of their NCAA approved benefits?

Kevin Romanchik Scene Editor

In my opinion, to put it quite simply: no.

Even though I have not participated in any athletics here at Oakland University, I’m well aware of the cost of an education without a scholarship.

With the rising cost of tuition, it seems that we forget that a scholarship no matter where you go, is a gift, especially one that not everyone, student-athletes includ-

ed, have the luxury of receiving.

The fact that many in the media are downplaying what an education from a major university means in the long run, considering that not every athlete goes pro, is ridiculous.

According to the NCAA, less than 2 percent of college football players, and 1.2 percent of men’s basketball players go professional.

There are some possible problems with considering the possibility of a pay-to-play policy.

There would be equal pay across the board. Every student athlete, no matter what the sport, would have to receive equal compensation. That means the starting senior quarterback would get the same as the back-up kicker.

Title IX would clash with payto-play. With Title IX, universi-

ties has to provide equal number of scholarships in both men and women sports. If pay-to-play were enacted, many universities would have run into conflicts with these non-revenue producing sports. Cutting certain sports would surely follow.

Pay-to-play affects mid-majors in a significant way by shifting the competitive balance.. The advantage of major universities offering extra benefits would create a rift in recruiting in many programs because of the lopsided revenue between the big and small universities. According to NCAA financial reports, University of Texas receives $3,273,727 in contributions to their men’s basketball program, while Oakland’s men’s basketball program receives $39,764.

Almost all universities in the

state of Michigan are raising tuition due to reduced state funding.

The perception of extra money for athletes would create conflict with the student body, faculty, and various academic departments,.

There are many more issues that could arise, but is an extra couple thousand dollars worth it?

Revision of NCAA policies are needed, don’t get me wrong. The current NCAA rules are outdated because times are much different, but pay-to-play should be the last change discussed If you start paying student athlete benefits, the honor in representing an institution or for the love of the game is meaningless and college athletics become just another minor league, more so than they already are.

Local

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August 31, 2011

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Borders close gets bookstores talking

By RAYMOND ANDRE Senior Reporter

Borders bookstores announced July 19, despite chapter 11 bankruptcy, the 40-year veteran bookseller would be closing its some 400 doors permanently by September’s end.

Despite restructuring efforts, no acceptable bids to buy the company were placed.

Carl Howe, director of consumer research at the Yankee Group, which studies information-technology markets, said that while technology is providing more ways to consume knowledge, books will still survive.

“I think books have been with us for 400 years, and in 10 years we’re still going to have books,” Howe told Allison Keyes in an interview on National Public Radio’s “Tell Me More” program.

Borders failed, though, Howe said, because it built hundreds of physical stores rather than investing in the nascent digital market.

These decisions were made while Amazon secured its place in the Internet market, and a variety of e-book formats debuted.

Essentially, “they bet on the wrong horse.”

Mike Edwards, President of the Borders Group, echoed Howe’s

opinion in a press statement, citing the “rapidly changing” industry and the “e-reader revolution” as the reasons for Borders’ demise.

Howe said that e-books are “an extraordinary growth industry.”

“Only a couple years ago, there really wasn’t an e-book business,” Howe stated.

According to Yankee Group calculations, sales of e-books totaled less than $200 million by the end of 2008, the year after Amazon launched the first model of its successful Kindle e-reader device.

For 2011, Howe projected that e-book sales will reach $1.4 billion, following the 72 percent increase in sales per year that Yankee Group has tracked.

There are success stories in resisting the influence of electronic trends. Cary Loren is the owner of The Book Beat, an independent bookstore that operates without e-book sales and has served Oak Park since 1982.

“There's something about when you're in a bookstore and you're browsing through things, it sets off different things in your head, different associations that don't happen when you're on a screen bouncing from thing to thing. That physicality is no longer there," Loren said.

The artistry of a book is some-

times not translated well, he explained.

“A book is really an art object.

There are some really fine books that don't translate on an e-reader, " Loren said.

According to Loren, The Book Beat has been as successful because of its ability and commitment to serving specific and specialized areas.

“Our store knows more about children's books, art books and photography books than almost any store. So, we became specialists in a few fields and we never had a lot of competition, really,” Loren said.

Bestsellers became less of a concern the store focused on more esoteric, harder to find books that Loren said bigger stores overlook.

The news of Borders stores closing did not shock Loren.

“I don't think they did a great job as a bookseller,” he said. “I think that there is a need for bookstores, and I'm sorry to see bookstores and booksellers be out of work.”

Smaller stores will likely open up and take advantage of this vacuum, he said.

With the closing of Borders, some question the vitality of the physical book in a market that is increasingly accepting of virtual books and cloud-storage media.

SIERRA SOLEIMANI/The Oakland Post

Borders will be closing its doors at the end of September after filing for bankruptcy in July with failed attempts to find a buyer.

Bethany Boutin, English and French secondary education major at Oakland University, “will always love the written word and the physical book.”

“Nothing can replace its feel, its smell, its comforting physical presence. I like to physically interact with a book: to flip through pages and mark it up and keep it on my shelf,” she said.

And while Boutin admires

e-readers useful features like built-in dictionaries and the ability to save your exact position on a page, she said that she will “dread the day that books go out of print.”

“Fortunately, I think enough people share my view and I think it would take quite an effort to break down the barrier of protest that would surely arise in the face of book-extinction,” she said.

Detroit pride grows as Chrysler ad expands

By CLARE LaTORRE Copy Editor

During this year's Super Bowl, Chrysler debuted their new "Imported from Detroit" ad campaign.

Rapper and Detroit native Eminem was seen driving downtown in a Chrysler 200, standing on the stage of the Fox Theatre with Detroit's Selected of God choir and displaying the Detroit pride that has been missing: " This is the Motor City, and this is what we're made of."

The automotive company impressed viewers, in Detroit and elsewhere, with their motivational message.

Recently another commercial has been released, along with a single of the Collected of God choir's rendition of Eminem's "Lose Yourself' which can be purchased on iTunes.

These ads are doing more than merely selling a product -- they advertise Detroit and the pride shared by those who

call the city home. More importantly, they are drawing attention back to the recently overlooked American automotive industry.

In fact these ads have been so inspiring, they helped Jeff Laethem decide to purchase his newest dealership. The only Chrysler dealer in the city, Laethem's Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram opened in June of this year.

Speaking of the Super Bowl ad, Laethem said: "It was definitely pivotal in my decision to purchase another franchise… if you had told me a year ago that I would be buying another dealership, I wouldn't have believed you."

Laethem speaks very highly of the ads, crediting them with recent success and healthy sales. Since Eminem was seen behind the wheel, the Chrysler 200 has become the top selling model, he said.

There's no need to point out the well-known economic fall in Detroit; recent media portrayal of the city has been nothing short of depressing.

"More people need to start caring about Detroit," OU student and residential assistant, Ellen Tunison said. "That could've very well started with Chrysler."

Laethem agrees that Chrysler helps bring a positive look back to the city." [The commercials] definitely bring a new image to a city that has been beaten down by the media."

But the positive attention doesn't stop there.

These ads are bringing focus back to American-made products, which hopefully will not end at automotives.

"Any promotion of Detroit helps the Big Three," Laethem pointed out. These promotions help all General Motor dealers. American-made cars are more innovative than any foreign ones, he added. Hopefully these ads will help consumers realize that.

Tunison easily simplified the ads and their message: "I definitely think Detroit has the potential.

To view the mentioned Chrysler commercials, visit chrysler.com/en/commercials.

August 31, 2011

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Debt plan is a glass ceiling for students

By RAYMOND ANDRE Senior Reporter

Congress recently signed legislation that would raise the nation’s debt ceiling. But there are unintended consequences of the tied discretionary spending cuts that are a bit more elusive and not yet fully understood. An area that received relatively few cuts but still will likely feel the impact of the country’s changing monetary philosophy: college financial aid.

Early versions of the debt bill in both the House of Representatives and Senate had provisions that would entirely eliminate subsidized student loans, which would hindered the thousands of students that receive financial aid from the government.

As the law passed, undergraduate loans and assistance, as well as the Pell Grant, which the law provides funding for until the 2013 fiscal year, remained intact.

Graduate student subsidized loans however, will soon be eliminated meaning that those students that incur the most debt will now face earlier and greater difficulties during the repayment life of their loan. Grad students will also lose on-time repayment incentives that normally award students

interest abatements of .5 percent for direct debit payment of loans and .25 percent for consecutive on-time payments.

These federal changes are added to the already increased financial burden that students experience with continually rising tuition rates, seven percent for Oakland University’s fall 2011 semester.

This is a burden that will affect students post-completion of professional or graduate schooling, though, Cindy Hermsen, OU’s Financial Aid Director said.

“Students will still be eligible to borrow at the same limits, just no longer as subsidized, or interest free, loans,” she said. “Because the ability to borrow still exists, OU does not plan to offer supplemental loans.”

A total of 15,000 OU graduate students received $24 million in financial aid, $10 million of that amount coming from the soonto-be eliminated federal subsidized student loan for graduates.

Hermsen expressed concern about the Congressional deficit reduction committee’s potential targeting of undergraduate subsidized student loans as well as workstudy programs that help employee students while they attend college.

“They’ll be looking at all sectors of pub-

Where can I learn about student organizations?

How do I join a student organization?

I wish I could talk to someone in an organization.

Grizz Fest Greek Fest

Thursday, September 8th 11:00am - 1:00pm Organizations will be outside and around the Oakland Center, ready to answer your questions.

For more events, visit:

www.oakland.edu/getinvolved

lic spending, which means that they might look at additional reductions to financial aid,” she said.“I think that Congress really needs to consider that it would be taking money away from the most needy, they’ll have to decide if that’s really what is best for the country.”

A strong maintenance of need-based financial aid programs is necessary, the financial aid director said.

Elisa Malile, Vice President of the OU Student Congress, said that she and the OUSC are concerned for all students following Congress’ decision to eliminate the subsidized loan for graduate students.

“Of course OUSC is concerned about higher education cuts,” Malile wrote in an email. “I personally feel like government shouldn't cut any programs, they should stop giving tax breaks to corporations.”

A 2009 U.S. Department of Education study which sampled the level of dependency on student financial aid from July 2007 to June 2008 found that 74 percent 14 thousand graduate students, representative of three million students enrolled in U.S. graduate schools. The average amount borrowed by the sampled students was $17,600.

According to records from OU’s Of-

fice of Institutional Research, of the 18,920 students enrolled during the fall semester, 3,645 students were enrolled in graduate programs. During the 2008-2009 school year, 13,216 students at OU, including undergraduates, received financial aid.

Prior to changes in the debt deal, OU has offered assistantships, fellowships and scholarships to graduate students as additional, merit-based means of tuition assistance. The awards are limited and carry several requirements, such as permanent U.S. residency and non-default loan status with Michigan’s King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program.

OU’s Financial Aid director is confident that, despite changes, she expects graduate enrollment will remain strong, though she expects the number of graduate students defaulting on loan payments may rise.

“We will continue to educate students on loans on limits, repayment options and advise students to only borrow what is necessary,” she said.

As of the winter 2011 semester, OU had 3,503 students enrolled in graduate programs. Federal subsidized student loans for graduate students will be eliminated July 1, 2012.

Nation/World

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August 31, 2011

OU gender gap broadens

By SARAH HUNTON Staff Reporter

Observing the student body at Oakland University may leave you asking yourself one question: Where are all the men?

According to “Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010,” a report released

by The Census Bureau that analyzes education levels obtained by Americans 35 and older, 37 percent of employed women age 25 and older have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 35 percent of employed men.

Scanning OU’s campus, one might think that these statistics do not demonstrate the gender gap accurately. At OU, women make up 60 percent of the full-time student population and approximately 64 percent of those living on campus.

OU is not the only school in Michigan where the gender gap is visible. At Western Michigan University, the female to male ratio is 51-49, at Grand Valley State University it is 62-38 and at Michigan State University the female to male ratio is 56-44.

Chynele Stewart, communications major at OU, previously attended Central State University in Ohio.

“I’m actually a transfer student and at my other school it was a 10-to-1 ratio... I’m used

to it being more women than men,” she said.

Dr. Julia B. Smith, Associate Professor and Ph.D. Coordinator in the Department of Educational Leadership at OU is researching this topic. She was interested in researching if school was becoming a gendered institution, as well as why more boys are dropping out of high school and less are moving onto college.

What Smith has discovered is that men who have a stronger feeling of family responsibility are more likely to drop out of high school and find work, instead of moving onto an institution of higher education.

“Boys are dropping out of school to go to work and girls are not. So either going to college is equated with getting better jobs for girls but not boys, or it is easier for boys to get work straight out of high school than it is for girls,” Smith said. “I think possibly both of these things are true.”

Celson Belton, a recent biology graduate at OU, also believes family responsibility to be a contributing factor to the gender gap on college campuses.

“Men are usually looked at as the provider of the family,” Belton said. “It’s more important for men to find an immediate source of income, versus going to college

and becoming educated.”

Stewart thought Dr. Smith’s reasoning for the gender disparity can be seen in everyday life.

“Honestly, where I’m from, men tend to get jobs right out of high school and it’s harder for women to find jobs right out of high school,” Stewart said. “So women have to get an education in order to be as successful as they want to be. So, I think it’s just the way of the world.”

Lower cost and commuter colleges are also more likely to attract women because they attract the ‘non-traditional’ student.

“There are more women than men that go to college later in life,” Smith said. “If you look at the non-traditional student, the one who comes back to college after having been out of a while, it is about 70 to 75 percent female.”

Although the Women’s Liberation Movement has opened doors for women as far as school and employment are concerned, Smith doesn’t think that more women are in school because they have opportunities not previously granted to them.

“I think that the actuality of what is happening is that men have a stronger economic drive earlier in their lives than women do,” Smith said. “Women still have the expectation that they’re going to get

NICHOLE SEGUIN/ The Oakland Post

Women make up 60 percent of the student population at Oakland University. married and have someone help take care of them.”

As far as the future is concerned, Smith has two hypotheses on what may happen.

“There are essentially two directions that I could see these going,” she said. “One is that education becomes increasingly identified as a female thing to do.

“The other thing that I see happening as a potential for the future is that if the economic situation is as such that the labor market arbitrarily shrinks, we could have more men going to college in order to get jobs.”

Economy impacts student career choice

By KEVIN GRAHAM Staff Reporter

Selecting a major in college can sometimes be a difficult task for students.

The state of the economy has combined with an ever-faster flow of information to make the future seem confusing and unclear for students. New phrases like ‘terror cell,’ ‘going green’ and ‘social media’ have students preparing for a job market unlike any before it.

However, it is possible that OU students could apply the experiences of past generations to reach a better future.

Author David George Ball explores

this idea as part of his memoir, “A Marked Heart,” which details his personal transformation as a student at Yale after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak.

“Although my father was a Baptist minister, I had never before heard of a minister who was politically active, and even organized a boycott of segregated buses,” Ball said. “A few days after his visit, I changed my major to political science. My senior thesis was about integration of schools in the South.”

The issues have changed, but Ball feels students are as swayed by current events today as they were in his youth.

“Today students are concerned about a

host of problems, including the environment, wasting natural resources, poverty and disease,” Ball explained. “Many of them focus on careers that can make a difference in the world, such as environmental science, engineering, medicine, political science and education.”

OU junior Carly Zacharias shared Ball’s sentiment.

“I chose my major as English because I’ve always wanted to teach and that is my favorite subject.”

Ball said that economic realities present a very real challenge.

“The problem of finding a job along with the burden of repaying loans drives many

young people to pursue a safe career path,” Ball said.

Despite the advance of such services as Google and social media sites, Ball thinks students will continue to cultivate traditional sources of guidance. He sees today’s students are more likely to turn to their parents for advice, hoping their experience will prove beneficial.

Although the situation is difficult, Ball still believes students can affect change.

“Hopefully (students) will not abandon their idealism, but rather pursue the example of Dr. King with the Montgomery bus strike and try to change just that part of the world where they can make a difference.”

August 31, 2011

Nation/World // 19

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NEWS BRIEFS A look at significant current news events from around the globe:

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1. United States

The earthquake that shook the East Coast Aug. 23. has produced at least 18 aftershocks ranging in strength, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The aftershocks have ranged in magnitude from 4.5 to 2.0 following the strongest earthquake the East Coast has seen since World War II. The largest aftershock produced was last Thursday, which was a 4.5 magnitude and was felt by nearly 1,100 zip codes.

Aftershocks are usually small tremors that can take place weeks or months after the original quake. Millions of people from Georgia to Canada felt the original quake.

2. Libya

Moammar Gadhafi may have lied about the death of his adopted baby daughter, Hana, in a 1986 U.S. airstrike.

The strike hit Gadhafi’s home in Tripoli, in retaliation for the Libyan-sponsored bombing. Gadhafi showed two American journalists a photo of a dead baby and said it was his adopted daughter.

Diplomats have questioned the claim, but Gadhafi kept the story alive over the years.

When Libyan rebels took over Tripoli last week, they found a room in Gadhafi’s house with Hana’s birth certificate and pictures of a young women with the name written on the back of them. Hana’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but many believe she is still alive.

2

3. Estonia

Estonia President Toomas Hendrik Ilves was re-elected on Monday by Estonia’s parliament. This will be the second five-year term the president has served.

The president received 73 votes, while his opponent received 25. One vote was blank and two were disqualified in the vote. The results were read by the speaker of the 101seat Parliament.

This was the first election where a presidential candidate has managed to received two-thirds majority since Estonia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Ilves was a favorite heading into the election. Estonia joined the eurozone on Jan. 1., and now has one of the best-performing economies in the bloc.

4. China

Nineteen miners were trapped for a week underground and were pulled to safety Tuesday in northeastern China.

Rescuers are still searching for three more miners.

Teams brought up each man on a stretcher, their faces were blackened and eyes were covered to avoid damaging exposure to the sun. The provincial governor greeted each of the 19 and told them the rescue work was continuing.

Survivors were hospitalized and listed in stable condition. The miners said they were able to keep their helmet lamps operating for the 165 hours they were trapped.

— Compiled from AP Reports by Megan Semeraz, Senior Reporter

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The Mix

20

Starbucks vs. Biggby Starbucks faithful: Brittney Haney, Staff Intern

I

f you know me, you know my Starbucks addiction. There’s hardly a time that you will see me without a white, paper cup with its 10% post-consumer fiber label adorning the bottom. I can’t tell you the first time I tried a cup of coffee, or even the first time I walked into a Starbucks. But I can tell you that my Grande Skinny Caramel Latte with an extra shot of espresso hasn’t disappointed me since the first day we met almost 6 years ago.

I could never complain about the diversity of Starbucks coffee, since many of its flavors have come from all around the world. Latin America, Africa/Arabia, Asia/Pacific, and other Multi-Region blends are just the tip of the flavorful, coffee iceberg. Either way, Starbucks offers a sophisticated, customized beverage for just about everyone.

Obtaining its coffee beans from all around the world and also supporting the fair trade of coffee beans, Starbucks accounts for approximately two percent of bean production worldwide.

You could enjoy just a straight black, robust coffee or a full fledge latte, cappuccino, mocha or Frappuccino. The possibilities are endless. Along with offering phenomenal and delicious in-café beverages, Starbucks can bring their flavor to you to brew in your home or you can try one of their flavored VIA on-the-go packets to mix with just hot or cold water, and voila! You have gourmet coffee in an instant. I’ve ventured to many coffee shops throughout the years, franchise owned and also the local cafés, but I haven’t found the distinct flavor that Starbucks offers. I would have to say it attributes to the dedicated baristas, the high quality coffee beans and the intricate ingredients that make their coffee and other espresso-based drinks so delectable.

On the other hand, Biggby obtains its coffee from the Paramount coffee company. Despite their popular coffee flavors, their drink concoctions seem less than appealing to me. I tried to give their hip, kid-like drinks a shot, only to be disappointed by the overwhelming amounts of flavored syrups, creams and

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[

August 31, 2011

A war about coffee brews between Oakland Post staff members. In one corner, with almost 17,000 locations in 50 countries, 14 flavors of coffee, please welcome Starbucks! And in another corner with approximately 133 locations in the United States, also with about 14 flavors of coffee, we have Biggby.

Biggby loyal: Nichole Seguin, Managing Content Editor

S

other sugary mixtures drowning out the miniscule amount of coffee that I’m skeptical to even think was in my cup.

With drink names like Wild Zebra, Teddy Bear or Caramel Marvel, it’s hard to take your coffee indulgence seriously. I mean, is there even coffee in these elementary, kiddy drinks? I know everyone isn’t a powerhouse, robust coffee drinker, but if you do enjoy a mature, and well-prepared brew, Biggby is not for you.

o here I sit, behind enemy lines, drinking a tall size cup of what could possibly be the last cup of coffee I will ever live to drink.

I’m at the local Starbucks, a place I never imagined to set foot in.

You see, I live and breathe the Biggby Coffee franchise. I was a regular at one by my house for years before getting a job there at the start of the summer.

For me and (almost) everyone I associate with, Biggby is better and always will be.

Aside from Starbucks drinks, the ambiance is one of the most integral parts of a successful coffee shop. When a young adult, businessman, college student or mother of three walks into Starbucks there is an instant relaxation.

Any time I have set foot in a coffee shop the earthy wall tones, soothing music and the occasional across-thetable conversation has put me in a state of bliss.

I enjoy the sounds of a coffee grinder, steamer or blender in the background, and let me just say the smells are just as enticing as the taste of the coffee.

I’ve also dreamed of basing the design of my first house after a Starbucks coffee shop because the colors, accents and décor are so modern and calming I would never want to leave the comfort of it.

For starters, the coffee has a higher quality. A Michigan-based company, the beans are roasted at the Paramount Roasting facility in East Lansing, making them fresher than the beans Starbucks imports from their East Coast roasting facility in York, Penn.

At Biggby, the beans are roasted the day they’re ordered, and they’re used in less than two weeks at the stores, making them ultra fresh.

This cup of Pike Place Roast that I’m drinking was made from beans that are roasted fast to increase the quantity of beans produced, as opposed to the slow roast they do at Biggby’s Paramount facility, which is used to increase the overall quality of the beans.

In an article that was published a few weeks ago on Yahoo!, Starbucks apparently has a secret menu that is kept away from customers, and used only by

regulars or those lucky enough to figure it out. At Biggby, we have a not-sosecret secret menu, that’s usually recommended to customers, giving them more of a variety of drinks to choose from.

And though our drinks may be a little sweeter than the bitter drinks you’ll find at Starbucks, our combinations of syrups and coffee make perfect lattes.

When you walk into a Starbucks, it feels as if everyone there has their nose a little too high up in the air, whereas at Biggby, we welcome customers with a hearty hello as soon as they walk through the door and we encourage conversations with customers.

The CEO of the company, Biggby Bob, emails coupons to subscribers every single Monday, usually giving customers the luxury of buying anything on the menu and getting something free or half off in return, plus you get a free grande beverage on your birthday.

With the frequency card, after every 12th beverage, you’re able to get your choice of anything on the menu. So if you feel like you need a super frozen mocha caramel with sixteen shots of espresso, you can get one — on us. I can’t even think of a single time I got a coupon at a Starbucks.

You’ll notice Starbucks has a lot of commercially advertised merchandise.

At Biggby, especially the one in Utica, you’ll see an even more local appeal.

There are photos from a local photographer for sale on the walls, cards for sale that are made in Detroit, and if you’re lucky, you might run into Girl Scouts selling cookies in the Spring.

You’re also able to customize your regular cup of joe with any of our six featured roasts, as all coffee is self-serve.

If the coffee of your choice isn’t available day of (Michigan Cherry, anyone?), you can purchase fresh bags in the style you like. Just don’t forget to use your frequency card, because you get a pound free after you buy 12.

Don’t get me wrong, Starbucks does have some nice things — their cake pops are delicious and they have more of a variety of bottled drinks and food, but they’re not the cozy happy place I practically live in.

Features

August 31, 2011

www.oaklandpostonline.com

21

Dance brings student to Ghana Honors College thesis research begets fresh perspectives

By SONIA LITYNSKYJ and SARAH WOJCIK

Staff Intern and Features Editor

To the average American, the single-syllable word “dance” doesn’t go much further an imagined scene of stretching ballerinas or a group of beat-driven clubbers, but Catherine MacMaster and her colleagues know differently. “(Dance) is, in my opinion, a very honest way to express something,” MacMaster said.

“Virtually anybody can dance — if your heart is beating and you are breathing, you can make some kind of physical expression, even if it is only facially, and that is dancing — various forms and levels of body language … Dancing intrigues me because it says so much without saying anything.”

MacMaster’s love for dance began at the age of three and has since evolved throughout the years.

“What has particularly stood out is Catherine’s creativity when creating dances,” Gregory Patterson, an Oakland University dance professor, said. “The dance faculty has been very impressed

by Catherine’s unique voice in choreography, her use of inventive, original movement, her musical choices and the overall quality of her work.”

As an Honors College dance major researching for her senior thesis, MacMaster had the extraordinary opportunity to live and dance among the natives of Ghana, a country located in West Africa, for three weeks.

She was funded by the Honors College, Maggie Allesee (Dance Department Scholarship), and the Alumni Association through their study abroad fund.

MacMaster stayed at a modest hotel in the city of Ho, located in the Volta Region of Ghana for the majority of her trip, but also lived with a host family for four days.

“Ghanaians are some of the most hospitable people I have

Photos courtesy of Catherine MacMaster

Catherine MacMaster resided in Ghana for three weeks. She pounds fufu, a meal made from cassava root, a starchy, carb-filled staple in the Ghanaian diet. ever met,” she said. “We grew very close with a lot of locals, especially people who worked at our hotel and people who came to teach us from nearby villages and the National Dance Company of Ghana.”

MacMaster set out to Ghana with questions to be answered as well as an open mind of the cultural differences between Americans and Ghanaians.

“The goal of my research is really to investigate dance as a form of communication and as an integral part of a culture,” she said. “It was an interesting way to get through language barriers.”

MacMaster discovered much during her stay in Ghana.

Ghanaians live in a much more laidback fashion, MacMaster said, and to her, everyone is a dancer.

“If they’re tired, they take a nap. It’s much more organic

there,” she said.

MacMaster was able to find a distinct difference between American dance and the Ghanaians form of dancing: “Americans are more reserved in dancing where Ghanaians are very open. Ghanaians are willing to share their culture,” she said.

MacMaster also noted importantly that, in Ghana, if you aren’t willing to add expression, people aren’t willing to watch.

Historical dancing among the Ghanaians is a way to relay the events of their culture, she said.

Shrines were dedicated to the art of dance, where Ghanaians of all ages dance for hours as a form of cleansing.

One thing MacMaster picked up in Ghana is something everyone can relate to: “I learned the simpler your life is, the more rich you are.”

MacMaster dances with a little boy at a traditional African shrine in Aflao, Ghana.

MacMaster and her host family experienced a traditional Ghanaian dance festival in a small village in Aflao.

22 // Features

August 31, 2011

www.oaklandpostonline.com

Baillageon takes on many roles in lifetime

By BRITTANY HANEY Staff Intern

Sandwiched between growing up in a small Canadian town to working as a full-time professor at Oakland University, Claude Baillargeon’s life story has the potential to be made into a riveting novel or movie.

From graduating undergrad in photography at Ryerson University in 1981, to working as a French language monitor for professors in the Yukon Territory, to being a roulette dealer at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, to taking a six-month, 7,000 mile road trip in a Volkswagon van from the Yukon to the Yukatán Peninsula, to exploring Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, to living in Paris, one may be pressed to ask: What hasn’t he done?

Professor Baillargeon received his MFA from the School of the Art Institue of Chicago in 1989 and his Ph.D in art history from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002.

He acquired his current position at Oakland through job listings for a historian of photography or film.

A Canadian native, Baillargeon was unfamiliar with Michigan geography.

“I knew well, of course, Rochester, New York, but didn’t know what Rochester, Michigan was.

So I got my atlas out and I went, ‘Oh, look at that! It’s not very far!

Maybe I could drive,’” he said.

Now going into his ninth year of commuting from his home in Canada to Oakland University, Baillargeon has made some great sacrifices to do what he loves.

During the school week you

will find Baillargeon in an apartment near downtown Rochester, which makes commuting more convenient, but a few times out of the month, Baillargeon will make the four-hour trek back home.

Travelling through cities such as Port Huron, Sarnia and London, Ontario, Professor Baillargeon has his commute down to a science.

He has been fortunate enough to have his classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which commuting easier.

With such dedication to his profession and the strong connections he’s formed in his classrooms, students agree that Professor Baillargeon is a wonderful addition to the OU community.

Students who have attended his classes have nothing but positive things to say and each one has left with a new sense of interest for the art field:

Photo courtesy of Claude Baillargeon

This French-speaking, Canadiancommuniting professor’s backstory has the ability to make some say, “Eh?!” in disbelief.

“Professor Baillargeon’s teaching style was very engaging. It was a lecture, and I took more notes than probably any other class,” Colleen Campbell, an alumni who studied history of

photography, said. “He is not only very knowledgeable of the material, but his passion for it made me feel more like a kid at story time (than a student).”

“Taking Art History 101 with Claude was one of the best decisions I have ever made here at Oakland,” said Danielle Mitchell, a political science major. “He is a fantastic professor and has opened me up to the world of art.”

Baillargeon also curated an exhibition called Revolutionizing Cultural Identity: Photography and the Changing Face of Immigration, which was first shown at OU. This exhibition is now being presented at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 during the summer months. For more information on this exhibit, go to pier21.ca/exibitions

Student’s checklist includes experience, energy and enormous responsibility

By SARAH WOJCIK Features Editor

This July, Oakland University’s Center for Student Activities (CSA) expanded their staff by one: Allison Webster filled the brand new position of assistant director of student organization programs, which carries responsibilities as hefty as its official title.

The restructuring of the position now funnels all areas of student organizations and funding onto one person.

Webster oversees all student organizations, including everything from registration to the renewal process to training student organization leaders.

She also is advisor to the Student Program Bord (SPB), which brings all the large-scale events to campus like concerts and trips, Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) and the Student Activities Funding Board (SAFB).

Lastly, Webster advises the fraternities and sororities of OU — everything from recruitment to leadership training to philanthropy events to Greek week.

It may seem like more than a plateful, but Webster comes from an experienced background in college involvement and higher education leadership.

“I was really involved in undergrad.

I was president of the programming board, I was the vice president of my sorority and I was an orientation leader, a tour guide,” Webster said. “I did a little bit of everything.”

After graduating from Albion College with a bachelor’s degree in communication, Webster went to Grand Valley and received her master’s in a program called college student affairs leadership.

“That’s the reason why you work for a college — just making sure that you put the students as a priority and hopefully everything connects.”

— Allison Webster, assistant student director of organization programs

She kick started her professional career immediately after at Milikan University, a small private school in Decatur, Illinois, as the coordinator of student programs for a year before assuming her position at OU. “I like that don’t do the same thing everyday,” Webster said. “There’s always things going on and I like to get up and move. It’s always really fun and there’s always something new to do, new

to plan.”

Even though Webster has only been at OU a month, she is busy meeting with student leaders from SPB, OUSC, SAFB and fraternities and sororities.

Among the reasons Jean Ann Miller, the director of the CSA, hired Webster was her experience with both public and private institutions and her ability to bring a new perspective to OU, as well as her Greek involvement.

“She is fitting in fabulously well.

Students are coming by on a daily basis to meet with her and I’m just getting lots of positive response in terms of herself, in terms of offering her resources, along with her personality as well, so it’s a winwin situation all the way,” Miller said.

“It’s a big job, but I’m very confident that Allison’s going to do an excellent job.”

Webster said she is excited to get acclimated to the culture of OU, a commuter college of over 18,000, which is a stark contrast from Milikan University, where 90 percent of its 2,000-student population lived on campus.

“At the end of the day, I think you just have to think that the students are the most important. That’s the reason why you work for a college — just making sure that you put the students as a priority and hopefully everything connects.”

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Features // 23

New student org aims to dominate bullying

By SARAH HUNTON Staff Reporter

A new student organization at Oakland University is taking a step to combat bullying. Students Against Bullying (SAB) aims to bring attention to the issue of bullying at all educational levels and eradicate it.

Tara Michener, a graduate student in the Counseling Department at OU and an established children’s book author, founded the group in the summer of 2011 because she wanted to take action against bullying.

“I think it’s great to research and talk about (bullying),” Michener said, “but it’s even better to do something about it.”

Dr. Michael P. Chaney, an associate professor and coordinator of addictions specialization at OU, is the faculty advisor to the group.

He believes that this organization will be a good resource for students to reach out about any encounters with bullying they

might have had.

“I think students come to college to learn, not to be bullied or end up a suicide statistic,” Chaney said. “Students need a safe place where they can talk about their bullying experiences and I think this group is a great opportunity for that.”

Although bullying may be thought of as something that kids in elementary, middle or even high school participate in, SAB believes that it is important to combat bullying on college campuses as well.

Michener explained that bullying could take many forms in a university setting.

“I think that if you live in the dorms, there might be a situation there with a roommate or friends that want you to feel like you are not as good as other people,” Michener said. “I think that if you are in class and maybe you give a wrong answer you might get laughed at. And I do think that a professor could even do that to

you and make you feel as if you are not as good as everyone else.”

In the classroom setting, opinion-based discussions may also be a place for bullying to take form.

“If you are in a discussion and there is no exactly right or wrong view, I think that can get heated and turn into bullying if you are not careful,” Michener said. “I do think that at times name-calling can fall into place or people can take things personally and turn things into something that it’s not.”

According to Chaney, bullying could also take the form of cyber bullying or hazing in structured groups such as sports teams, fraternities and sororities. “(Bullying) on a college campus also looks like physical harassment, verbal harassment, sexual harassment and also racial harassment.” Chaney said.

On Sept. 6, SAB will be hosting a kick-off meeting from 1-3 p.m. at the Fireside Lounge in the OC.

Rhonda Walker, WDIV news anchor and founder of the Rhonda Walker Foundation, will be attending this event.

SAB also plans to organize events during October for National Bullying Prevention Month.

In addition to the events SAB has planned, Michener has developed the “Out of the Box” video series. In these videos, Michener instructs participants to explain how they have been put in a box or had a label ascribed to them and how they are more than what they have been labeled.

“I think that we can be labeled, we can be boxed in, we can be defined in so many ways, but typically when that happens, it limits our true potential,” Michener said. “So we’re going to be going around campus and seeing if people want to do these little videos.”

In the winter, SAB hopes to organize confidential, safe group discussions for students to discuss

their experiences with bullying.

As a counseling professional as well as victim of bullying himself, Chaney believes that discussions like these will benefit students.

“For individuals who have been victims of bullying, it’s so important to talk about the experience,” Chaney said. “That’s where the healing really begins.”

OU offers free counseling through the School of Education and Human Services and the Graham Counseling Center.

SAB is looking for individuals who would like to become involved with the student organization.

“We just want people with good heart who really care about this subject and want to be as involved as much as they can,” Michener said. “Everybody’s ‘as much as they can’ is different.”

For more information about the kick-off meeting or on how to become involved with SAB, contact Tara Michener at dmichene@oakland.edu.

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Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Fireside Lounge free and open to all OU students

The Scene

24

August 31, 2011

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LIL WAYNE// “Tha Carter IV”

SIERRA SOLMANI/The Oakland Post

Brad Stepehens (left) and Lauren Knox on stage during a performance of the musical, ‘Dustland Fairytale: A Tribute to The Killers.’ The play is based off of music from the Las Vegas-based band and characters are derived from the songs.

Creating a new ‘Fairytale’ OU students write and direct a tribute to the Killers

By BRIAN FIGURSKI Staff Reporter

The Killers are generally not the first band to think of basing a play off of because of their limited discography and small fan base and following .

But that’s exactly what enticed co-directors Abby Alexander and Nathan Cuffee when envisioning their Las Vegas-based band musical: ‘Dustland Fairytale: A Tribute to the Killers,’ which will be performed during Welcome Week.

Following the trend set in past years by student productions based on the work of specific artists including Journey and Elton John respectively, the members of past plays found it important to reach for a more youthful, relatable palette.

“Nathan and I are really big fans of the Killers, and since our freshman year we’ve had this idea of a story line because a lot of their albums are very story-based,” Alexander said. “We thought, ‘what if it was something a little more modern that kids today can relate to?’”

Playwright Lauren Knox agreed.

“It’s something college age kids are going to appreciate,” she said. “A lot of times you deal with themes that are farther down the road, but this stuff is so immediate, kind of like that journey of discovering who you

are, and what life is like outside of college.”

Knox was brought in to write a script around the music selection after working with Alexander and Cuffee on other productions.

“For me, it was important to listen to the songs and read the lyrics so I could make that congruency,” Knox said.

The script incorporates many themes addressed in the Killer’s songs, and works to complete a story spanning the bands discography over the years.

“The main plot is the relationship between two best friends, and this third-party person who is the symbol of all things prosperity and who has this magnetism that everyone gravitates to,” Knox said.

“Jealousy and obsession, and maybe a little bit of insanity come in.”

“We want to play up the dark side of it,” Alexander said. “The Killers use a lot of specific pronouns, so we have a lot of characters we were able to pull right from the songs.”

When the script was ready and the production phase began, the project was not planned to be choreography heavy, but pulling inspiration from music videos correlated with the set list beckoned for bigger dance numbers.

“We have a couple of big numbers that are going to be amazing lifts going on with

the music,” Cuffee said.

Knox and Cuffee both experimented with alternate angles of the music.

“It’s the fairytale part of it. When you go into that darker side, I feel like it opens you up to a different side where you can get away with stuff not based on realism,” Knox said. “The juxtaposition is pretty cool.”

The harrowing darkness thematically clashes brilliantly with the large, bright sound in the Killer’s music.

Unlike the flamboyancy displayed in the music and members of the Killer’s, ‘Dustland Fairyland’ will have a simplistic set to keep focus on the quality of the actors and script.

“Our theatre is kind of industrial and we want to keep that gritty feeling.” Alexander said. “The choreography will pull a lot of focus and rely a lot on lighting, but (the story) stands there on it’s own.”

Oakland’s department of Music, Theatre and Dance has been getting bigger by the numbers, hoping that freshmen in the new semester will gain an interest with productions of fun and familiar plays throughout the season.

‘Dustland Fairytale’ will be in the Varner Studio Theatre Sept. 2 - 4 at 8 p.m., with a second performance at 10 p.m. showing on Sept. 3.

After eight months in Rikers Island, Lil Wayne’s longawaited album Tha Carter IV finally released to immense fan anticipation. Moving away from the rock-inspired Rebirth and back towards the style of past Carter albums, Wayne recapture his spot in the hip-hop hierarchy with singles like “6 Foot 7 Foot” and “John.” He takes a departure from the norm with the vocoderless “How to Love,” but fans should be happy with his return.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS // “I’m With You” Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, the Grammy award­— winning band with Detroit roots are back with their first release since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium.

With departure of longtime guitarist John Frusciante, the new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer—who worked with artists such as Gnarls Barkley and PJ Harvey—brings his own style, which creates different direction for the band.

“OUR IDIOT BROTHER” // 1 hr. 35 min. // R Every family has the one member who is slow on getting his or her life together. Paul Rudd plays Ned, an organic farmer who lacks common sense and relies too much on the honesty of everyone around him. When Ned gets dumped by his girlfriend and kicked off the farm, its up to sisters Liz, Miranda and Natalie to take turns playing host to their troublesome brother. As each other sister’s lives begin to take a dive, they soon wonder if their brother Ned is really that much of an idiot or just misunderstood.

— Compiled by Scene Editor Kevin Romanchik

August 31, 2011

www.oaklandpostonline.com

25 // The Scene

Arts, Beats, Eats and students Royal Oak’s festival adds Oakland University to the mix

By NICHOLE SEGUIN

Managing Content Editor

Oakland University and the Arts, Beats & Eats festival in Royal Oak are pairing up for the first time this year, allowing students to volunteer to earn money for student organizations.

“I was approached by Don Johnson, the city manager of Royal Oak, who is an OU alumus,” Jean Ann Miller, director for the center of student activities, said. “It’s really great, there are a lot of OU alumni and students involved.”

According to Miller, approximately 121 students signed up to work the weekend and will be directing parking at various locations in Royal Oak. Students who volunteer will receive a free two-day pass into the event, free parking, a free shirt and will earn $10 for every hour they work, deposited into their organization’s accounts.

Jackie Purri, summer corps student involvement officer for CSA, worked closely with the festival’s volunteers to organize the event.

“This is a great way to get Oakland’s name out in the community,” Puuri said.

“It helps spread the name of Oakland, the

Photo courtesy of Shawn Russell of Call Marvin

Call Marvin is slated to perform on the last day of the festival, September 5th at 5:30 p.m.

The band has performed at the festival before, but this year, Call Marvin has new time slot.

student orgs on campus and the kind of student life we have … it’s such a great opportunity for students to earn money and give back to the community.”

Walter Hooper, a senior majoring in

journalism, is working the event to raise money for his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

“Our fundraising chair was the one who set it up for us to work at,” Hooper

said. “I’m looking forward to spending a day with my brothers and just being in the middle of an event that electrifies and drives Royal Oak.” The festival — which takes place Sept.

2-5 — showcases a variety of local arts, cuisine, music and humanities.

Included in the over 200 performances throughout the weekend, the reggae band Call Marvin will be taking to the stage on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m.

Call Marvin — which includes Mike Bass, Steven Q and Sean Russell, an OU alumn — formed while the three were in high school, and transformed after Russell graduated.

Though this isn’t their first time performing at the festival, Russell said the band is excited to perform again.

“Last year we were one of the first acts,” he said. “This is such a great quality event though ... it’s represented well and makes it worthwhile to come and perform.”

Other “beats” for the event include alternative rock artist Panic! At the Disco, rock performer Bret Michaels and country artist Vince Gill.

For more information on the annual event, and to see a full listing of performers, food vendors and artists, visit artsbeatseats.com

Changes to MTD hope to bring in new audiences

By STEPHANIE PREWADA Staff Intern

This new fall semester brings with it new opportunities from the Music, Theatre and Dance Department.

Starting September 22 the MTD Department is introducing Thursday Arts-AfterWork.

Each month, two Thursdays will be selected to host a performance. Shows are set to start at 6 p.m. and will either take place in the Recital Hall or Studio Theatre. .

MTD department hopes that introducing this new time will accommodate those who work the typical 9 to 5 job.

“We are hoping this will help offer a different group of people to be able to come to the performances,” Gillian Ellis, assistant publicist of MTD said.

The OU Jazz Faculty kicks off this new performance series on September 22. The first production will be “Little Mary Sunshine,” which will be held at Varner Recital

Hall on October 13.

“I’m very excited -- it’s something new and different. It gives people more of an opportunity to see a show,” Ashley Rozanski, a senior musical theatre major said.

Ticket prices are set at the discretion of buyers. They can be purchased at the Varner box office, or through startickets.com.

“Some people don’t always get a chance to see matinees. Also, you pay what you want, even if it’s three dollars,” Rozanski said.

Arts-After-Work allows sponsors to view a wide range of performances -- from instrumental ensembles, to Shakespeare, to modern dance and guest artists.

Each of the MTD departments are committed to sharing the spotlight and captivating their audience’s attention.

“This new series brings about excitement for the whole college campus, and allows the program to reach out to the community,” Professor Karen Scheridan said.

“Getting the people together is a commu-

Photo courtesy of the music, theatre and dance department

Actors Wesley Miles and Abigail Alexander act as narrators during the eight hour long performance of the traveling medieval play called “Pageant Play” in April of 2011. nity-building experience and a great social opportunity.”

Arts-After-Work is not solely intended

for the Oakland University community, but for the Rochester community as a whole.

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Mouthing Of f

August 31, 2011

The views expressed in Mouthing Off do not necessarily reflect those of The Oakland Post.

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27

Expert tip: No bathroom eating

By BRIAN FIGURSKI Staff Reporter

Hello, freshmen and returning students to Oakland University! Did you miss me over your summer vacation? Probably not, since most of you do not know who I am.

Those who are familiar with me usually drink my memory into repression at every given opportunity.

I am new to this fine university, but in my short tenure attending classes this summer, I’m going to give you freshmen a breakdown of how to survive this school year without ripping hair out of your scalp.

I’ve learned that I hate a lot of people.

This is a pessimistic attribute passed down from my lovely mother at conception, but is severely exploited when the lot of these antagonists pick up on my friendly attitude and place themselves next to me in class.

At heart, I’m a failure of a comedian. I find the worst end of that spectrum is the class clown who had his funny bone re-

moved at birth. This guy or gal will chime in a countless end of ‘jokes’ or add his off-color commentary to a serious lecture, disrupting the class and have you penetrating your textbook with a pen in anger.

Times have changed. You just can’t throw out a ‘that’s what she said’ and expect respect anymore.

For those new to the university scene, you might find yourself invited to some parties around town. Put your schoolwork first; don’t drink yourself into remission.

I’ve only been here four months and now it takes twice as many wine coolers for me to get double vision. I do not have the funds to pick up four-packs of Seagrams each night anymore. Fraternities loved the boxed Franzia.

Whether you embrace it or not, OU will most likely become a second home to you.

Late nights at Kresge Library or hanging out at the Fireside Lounge watching stupid cat videos on Youtube, you’ll be spending a lot of time on campus.

It is not your home. Do not take your shoes off sitting at the Subway. No taking intermittent naps between classes on the park benches. I have a sharpie stashed in my bookbag for face-doodling purposes specifically, or ink-poisoning the rest of your sub.

The most valuable lesson I have learned is to not eat your lunch in the ladies’ room.

I know they have those luxurious couches in there. Those comfortable, dreamy rest stops.

You can really get into some awkward situations walking into those restrooms and seeing someone gouging on a tuna salad sandwich and painting their toenails, especially if you have a penis. You quickly turn into a pervert and get your picture posted on the wall. I’m still not sure if I’m allowed in Varner anymore.

Avoid what I’m doing right now. This extracurricular activity, writing for the Oakland Post, professors read this stuff, even my disposable view of the world.

When I wind up in their class and they put a face to the name, chances are they will expect a big red nose and rainbow-shaded clown ‘fro on my head.

I’m not disavowing you don’t join the ranks of school spirit, but mind your manners. I’ve already spent 500 words destroying my credibility, so turning back at this stage would be pointless. Don’t act a fool in publication.

So there are some quick pointers I’ve picked up on both vicariously and quite literally in my time thusfar as a Golden Grizzly.

Despite my misdoings, I really like this school. I am not so sure the feeling is mutual.

Don’t end up in my dunce cap. You’re going to take me out swinging if you really want that crown. I’m not much for sharing the title of biggest jackass.

And I promise next time I won’t spend the entire back cover of the Post talking about myself.

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